John Estey Student Writing Competition
4th Annual Student Writing Competition
Congratulations to the winners of the 4th Annual John Estey Student Writing Competition, announced on September 11, 2023 at our annual benefit!
Support the Benefit
2023 Elementary Winners
- Siaansh Singh Bhadauria (Deerfield Elementary School, CA) – Read Siaansh’s full submission here
- Aydin Soner (Homeschool, SC) – Read Aydin’s full submission here
- Aiza Liya Vattoth (Forest Park Elementary, AR) – Read Liya’s full submission here
2023 Middle School Winners
- Raymond Cai (Keystone School, TX) – Read Raymond’s full submission here
- Audriana Giudice (Lazar Middle School, NJ) – Read Audriana’s full submission here
- Taylor Haase (The Rhoades School, CA) – Read Taylor’s full submission here
- Chloe Lind (Ashley Hall School, SC) – Read Chloe’s full submission here
2023 High School Winners
- Brooke Elwell (Eastern Camden County Regional High School, NJ) – Read Brooke’s full submission here
- Anita Raj (Eastern Camden County Regional High School, NJ) – Read Anita’s full submission here
- Charity White (Carlisle School, VA) – Read Charity’s full submission here
2023 Competition Prompt
“Give me a song of hope and a world where I can sing it.” – Pauli Murray, Dark Testament
Pauli Murray (1910-1985) was difficult to define. They were a poet, a lawyer, a priest, a freight hopper, Eleanor Roosevelt’s friend, arrested for refusing to comply with bus segregation laws, a closeted member of the LBGTQ+ community, a professor, and so much more. Their work has influenced Supreme Court decisions, the Civil Rights movement, and countless individual people.
This prompt is a quote from Murray’s collection of poems titled Dark Testament. It can be used as a first line, a last line, a jumping-off point, an inspiration for your students’ work. They can use the entire quote or portions of it to write a fiction or nonfiction story, poem, song, scene, short monologue or other form of writing. Submissions should be 1,000 words or less regardless of format.
Prizes for the John Estey Student Writing Competition are as follows:
- 3 Winners from the Elementary Grade category will receive $500 each
- 3 Winners from the Middle School Category will receive $1,000 each
- 3 Winners from the High School category will receive $2,000 each
Submission deadline: June 5, 2023 at 11:59 PM CDT*
Please fill out the intent to participate form below to receive resources. The AWM Education team will send the submission link to those who filled out this form.
Homeschoolers are welcome to participate in the competition. Please indicate school name as ‘Homeschool’ while filling out the form.
* Not eligible to participate: Past winners of the competition, relatives of museum staff or board.
*To submit your student’s work, please fill out the intent to participate form and you will receive a submission link from the education team at a later date. Submissions will ONLY be accepted through the submission link.
- The 3 winners of the Elementary Grade category will receive $500
- The 3 winners of the Middle School category will receive $1,000
- The 3 winners of the High School category will receive $2,000
Category Selection
- Elementary Grade Level (Grades 3-5)
- Middle School Grade Level (Grades 6-8)
- High School Grade Level (Grades 9-12)
- Only 3 entries per category from one school.
- Teachers will be allowed to submit entries for multiple categories.
- A school with K-8 students can submit 6 entries (3 for Elementary and 3 for Middle School).
- A school that is a stand alone middle school, or a high school can submit only 3.
- If multiple teachers in a school have their students compete, the school needs to pick the top 3 for the school.
- Winners agree to be filmed reading their work and to be featured in a press release and on the American Writers Museum website.
Contact education@americanwritersmuseum.org with any questions
Previous Winners
2022
- Olivia Bakal – Oakwood School , CA
- Evelyn Basken – Alcott College Prep Elementary School, IL
2021
- Catherine Huang – Collegewood Elementary School , CA
- Chloe Truong – Norwood Park School, IL
2020
- Sophiya Subba – Whittier Elementary School, IL
2022
- Alessandra Giordano – Lazar Middle School, NJ
- Alisha Walker – Lincoln Middle School, IL
2021
- Taskin Arisha – Castle Hill Middle School, NY
- Aisling Panjwani – Skinner North Classical School, IL
2022
- Elizabeth Boguslavsky – Glenbard South High School, IL
- Lana Olarte – Durham School of the Arts, NC
2021
- Katie Liske – Marian High School, NE
- Adina Tanner – Yeshiva University High School for Girls, NY
2020
- Nina Artwell – Niles North High School, IL
- Ysa Quiballo – Niles North High School, IL